Kenny Dalglish returns to Anfield as Liverpool legend is officially unveiled as new manager

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish may have stressed he would be happy to stand aside at the end of the season but suggested the club would have to find a 'better' candidate to replace him.

Director of football strategy Damien Comolli admitted the possibility of the 59-year-old Scot, brought in on Saturday to take charge until the summer after the departure of Roy Hodgson, being made permanent boss had not been ruled out.

Dalglish, who appointed former Chelsea and West Ham No 2 Steve Clarke as the club's new first-team coach, insists he wants to help in any way he can, although his assertion that he will happily give way to a superior contender puts the pressure on the club's owners New England Sports Ventures to find a top-class replacement if his short stint in charge turns out to be a success.

Back on old ground: Kenny Dalglish points to the famous 'This is Anfield' tunnel sign as he is officially paraded as new boss

'My understanding is it is until the end of the season and that is no problem for me,' he said.

'I've heard stories about me
demanding this or that - when I was phoned early on Saturday morning it
was a straightforward "yes" and that was it for me.

'There are no conditions, no promises, nothing. We'll not start running before we walk.

'I came back to work at a club that myself and my family are eternally grateful for many things they have done for us.

'If I do really well and there is someone better than me that comes along I will have no problem whatsoever.

'I am here to be of help to the club and if that means Kenny Dalglish is not the manager that is not a problem.

Return of the king: Dalglish clutches the Liverpool shirt as he stands on the Anfield turf

'If at the end of the season the
owners have their eyes on someone else then I have no problem stepping
aside because if I didn't I wouldn't be true to my word.

'I would do it readily if it meant the club improving.'

The former Reds player and manager
joked: 'If I can get to the end of the season then I'll probably end up
as one of the longest-serving managers in the Premier League any way.'

However, director of football strategy Damien Comolli has not ruled out the legendary figure's chances of assuming the role.

Asked what the criteria was for
identifying the next permanent manager the Frenchman said: 'Competence,
someone who will fit into the club and playing philosophy and huge on
man-management - the three things most important to the club.

Never walk alone: Dalglish is all smiles as he strides down the steps towards the dressing rooms

'It is open to people that we think fit into what I have described and Kenny obviously fits into that category.'

Asked whether that meant Dalglish
would be considered he added: 'The answer is yes, there will be a
thorough search of what we want to do, where we want to get to and we
will talk to Kenny about it and see where it takes us.'

Dalglish wanted the job last summer
after the departure of Rafael Benitez but was overlooked by the previous
regime of owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, chairman Martin
Broughton, managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director
Ian Ayre.

Only the latter of those remains on
the board in any executive capacity and he defended the way they arrived
at the ill-fated appointment of Hodgson, who struggled for results and
failed to win over the fans who turned against him.

Cause for optimism: Despite suffering defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United on his return to management, Dalglish is positive about Liverpool

Ayre did accept, however, the 63-year-old was probably the wrong man for the club.

'In the summer we went through a very
exhaustive process and it is easy to look in hindsight and say it might
have been better or different,' he said.

'What we have done in the last few
days is bring Kenny back to turn it around. Roy's departure was not
based on the fans' reaction.

'There is not anyone at this club who does not think Roy is a great coach.

Kenny do it: Dalglish will look to help Fernando Torres rediscover his golden touch in front of goal

'Sometimes things don't come together
and don't gel and I think everyone felt that was the case with the
level of defeats (nine in the league) and situation on the pitch drove
the decision.'

Hodgson signed a three-year contract
in July but Ayre stressed that paying him off - having also had to fork
out a fortune when Benitez left - would not impact on any transfer funds
available to Dalglish.

'We reached an agreement with Roy and
certainly that type of payment does not come into the same area of
business as our transfer budget,' he said.

The rebuilding process at Anfield continued earlier in the day with the appointment of Clarke as first-team coach.

Man of the moment: The ropes hold off the assembled media as Dalglish proudly poses for photographs

Dalglish said: 'It is important we have good backroom staff and Steve comes into that category,' he said.

'To be fair to Steve he was phoned
last night and he was up here for training this morning - which tells
you the lure Liverpool football club has to someone.

'He was very instrumental in the
success of several clubs, none less so than Mourinho's spell at Chelsea
so we've got a decent guy there.

'He worked well in tandem with Sammy this morning so it looks positive for us.'

At the moment that is only until the
end of the season but the club have already entered into discussions
about his longer-term future.